Homophobia in Madurai college drives two students to suicide
March 16, 2019: Two first-year economics students at a private Madurai college took their lives this month, reports the Vikatan today.
The report states that the two young men consumed poison on March 2, unable to bear the taunts and harassment of peers who ridiculed their close friendship and ragged them based on this. They were rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, where one passed away four days ago, and one this morning.
While they are not alive to comment on the nature of their relationship, it seems clear that the ragging they faced was motivated by homophobia.
Three years ago, in 2016, the University Grants Commission published its 3rd Amendment of the Anti-Ragging Regulations. This amendment expressly prohibits ragging based on sexual orientation and gender identity (including transgender), among other factors. While most colleges and universities around the country display their anti-ragging regulations and even organise sessions on ragging during orientation for incoming batches, ignorance of this amendment – and the vulnerability of gender-nonconforming, queer and trans students to ragging – is pervasive (see Queerala’s study of colleges in Kerala).
Six months after the Navtej Singh Johar verdict, homophobia, lesbophobia and transphobia are alive and flourishing. They are reflected in statements by the police that same-gender relationships, though decriminalised, are against ‘our’ culture; in attempts by parents to separate their adult progeny who are in queer/trans relationships with their lovers and place them under house arrest (individuals in six such cases reached Orinam for support from Dec 2018 to February 2019); and in continuing violence faced by students in educational institutions, leading to hate crimes such as the Madurai suicides.
| “Also to note is the unavailability of proper (stigma-free and LGBTIQ+ inclusive) mental health care access, where people in a state of emergency are not able to immediately think of an option. We need this both in educational institutions and elsewhere, in addition to measures to prevent bullying” – Shyam, Orinam volunteer from Coimbatore |
When will the prejudice and hate stop?
Notes:
- For crisis support and suicide hotline information, visit https://new2.orinam.net/resources-for/lgbt/crisis-support/
- For information on how educational institutions can be LGBTIQA+ inclusive, see https://new2.orinam.net/resources-for/educational-institutions/
- Thanks to Gokul for translation support.
